Writer's Block: A Tip About Tipping

What's your method for calculating a tip? View other answers

1. Observe the amount of the check.

2. Make up a round number (or a number that makes your payment round) that sounds like it is in the 15-20% zone.

3. Check that the number actually is in the 15-20% zone.

Fudge upwards if service is good, you made a lot of requests, or you used the table for a long time. Aim for 15% or just over if none of the above.

(P.S. I think it entirely shameful that waiters in the U.S. are not paid actual minimum wage pre-tip.)

Note to Self: Education

When you're studying something, there will often be tedious bits. Sometimes those tedious bits are bits you need to learn. Sometimes they aren't. And when they aren't, if you have a legitimate means of avoiding them, you should take it.

Specific example: my variational methods class. The variational methods I am learning involve much algebra. I know algebra. In fact, I have been doing my own algebra from the time I was studying geometry at home through every single mathematics or engineering textbook I have ever worked through or class I have ever taken (excepting number theory and MATLAB, respectively). Furthermore, no-one cares about the algebra, including the teacher (who explicitly said so). The important parts are (a) identifying the type of problem, (b) setting up the integrals, and (c) analyzing the solutions.

So, self, just use your fancy little calculator for the grunt work and be happy about it. You're just wasting time else.

Poor Wayfaring Livejournaller...

Intermeme courtesy of active_apathy and goblinpaladin, edited because I have no friends for better verisimilitude:

1. Set $media_app to random.
2. For each question, press 'next' to divine the answer.
3. Write down that song, regardless of silliness. Silliness is kind of the point.

( Questions and Answers! )